“And you think I don’t worry about you. What were you even thinking yesterday? Going with only one person to watch your back! Vanko is a moron for showing up alone. He should have had at least three other brain-dead goons with him for that meeting.”
He tried to fight his smile and failed miserably. Isidore had a very good point, and the heat in his words made him think that Isidore had been holding that in since yesterday’s disaster of a mission. They should have put more people in Delphi, but their bigger concern had been people finding Isidore and Athena. Charlie had floated the idea that Vanko was bait and the rest of Vanko’s men were actually closing in on their location in Itea, but they hadn’t told Isidore and Athena because they hadn’t wanted to worry them without proof.
Isidore sucked in a deep breath through his nose and then slowly released it through parted lips. His shoulders slumped as if some of the anger and tension had rolled out of his lanky frame. “But I trust you to know best. You’ve been doing this a long time. You have training. You’re not stupid. Even though I can be scared, I know you’re doing your best to return to me.”
Pride blossomed in his chest. This man—hisman—was so damn smart. He was struggling with his fears but giving Kairo the room he needed to do his work. Kairo stepped into Isidore and wrapped him up in a tight hug. Isidore returned it, snuggling his face into the crook of Kairo’s neck. “Yes. All of that. All of that is true.”
And maybe he needed to do the same for Isidore. As much as he wanted to keep this precious man away from danger, he needed the freedom to live his damn life. If Isidore chose to do dangerous things, that was his right. Wouldn’t it be better if he at least had the proper training? Especially if Isidore traveled with them.
“I know that we haven’t talked about any of this. I can’t even guess what your normal schedule looks like, but I tend to be constantly moving. We don’t settle in one place for more than a month or two.” Isidore lifted his head and eased back a little bit so they could look each other in the eyes. “I’m happy to return to Greece to see you as often as I can, but would you be interested in traveling with us on occasion? It would give us the chance to spend more time together, and our jobs can definitely be entertaining.”
“Your friends wouldn’t mind having me along?”
“I’d have to discuss it with them, but I don’t think so. You just have to keep in mind that we don’t stay in a lot of nice, five-star places. It’s a lot of roughing it.”
“I don’t mind it rough,” Isidore purred.
Kairo didn’t know if it was the words or the wolfish grin that accompanied that statement, but many brain cells suddenly died due to lack of blood and oxygen.
Dear God. What the fuck was he saying?
Oh! Traveling together.
“Then okay. You need some fight training. Strengthen your self-defense. I’ll talk to Charlie and Ed about it. I think they’d be the best teachers for you. They are patient and good at explaining things.”
“Really? You’d let me come with you? You’d let me train and help?” Isidore’s smile was so bright it was practically blinding. How could he possibly say no to that? He wasn’t that strong.
“Yes, but I’m still trying to keep you from danger. Unfortunately, shit happens. At least I’ll know that you’ve had some training to keep you safe.”
An excited noise erupted from Isidore, but Kairo didn’t get a chance to figure it out. Isidore slammed his mouth over Kairo’s in a bruising kiss that left Kairo wanting to laugh.
At least until Isidore swiped his tongue along Kairo’s. Those strong hands moved slowly down his back, molding their bodies together so he could feel Isidore hardening in his pants.
Oh God, yes. Arguing was over.
Time for make-up sex.
This barely counted as an argument, though.
Didn’t matter. He needed Isidore. Needed to touch, lick, suck every inch of his beautiful man. Needed to hear him moan and feel him come.
“I got something while on the grocery run this morning,” Kairo whispered as he tore his mouth away from Isidore’s to nibble along his neck.
“What’s that?” he panted. Fingers tugged at Kairo’s T-shirt, pulling it up so that he could touch bare skin.
“Go see. I put it under the pillow.”
Isidore flashed him an excited grin before he practically dove for the bed. A horrendous squeak rose as the springs protested the sudden weight. Kairo ripped his shirt over his head as he watched Isidore reach under the two thin pillows at the top of the bed. He came up with a small bottle of lube and a box of condoms. Turning back to Kairo, his mouth was open and his cheeks were flushed.
They’d fooled around plenty over the past several nights, but it was all hand jobs, blowjobs, and frotting. They’d not done anything penetrative yet. Part of that being they had neither condoms nor lube. Kairo had solved that part of the problem.
Kairo’s hands stopped on the button of his shorts. “If you’re not ready or not interested in that, it’s okay,” he backtracked.Shit. They should have talked about this. Was he pressuring Isidore into something he didn’t want or wasn’t ready for? Fuck, he was an ass!
Isidore launched himself to his feet and began pulling at his clothes. “No! I mean yes! I mean, please yes let’s do that.”
Kairo wanted to laugh, but he couldn’t because he had to turn all of his attention to removing his clothes as quickly as possible without falling over. He tossed his shoes aside and ran for the door, locking it against unexpected visitors. He didn’t think anyone would just walk in, but this was not a good time to be disturbed.
He turned and froze at the sight of a completely naked Isidore stomping toward him. His long, lean body was gilded with golden afternoon sunlight, making him seem to glow. He possessed a swimmer’s body, with strong, powerful shoulders and sleek muscles that ran down to a flat stomach and thick thighs. That long cock was rising to greet him from a black nest of neat curls.